Sunday Mixed Doubles 2/19/2023

Sally and I organize the Sunday Mixed Doubles event every other Sunday, alternating with Bev who has done it for years. It is quite easy to get overloaded with activities and Bev appreciates getting help with it. Even events that are greatly enjoyed can get to be too much of a good thing. Trophy Gardens has a plethora of activities to choose from and some very talented people to teach nearly anything you can think of to do.

Sunday Mixed Doubles 2/19/2023

The top winners of the day were:

Barb Utech and Jeff Golly with 10 wins out of 10 games.

Bev McEnaney and Butch Brooker with 8 wins out of 10 games.

Teri Thibodeau and Paul Kelleher with 7 wins out of 10 games.

Barb Brooker and Darrel Millard with 6 wins out of 10 games.

We commend the 7 teams who assisted the winners in having the success they did.

Donna Hanke and Kinley Poulson

Diane Golly and Don Riley

Sally Kelleher and Elmer Hanke

Betsie Brown and Don Wulf

Claudette Hogenson and Marcel Tessier

Janet Brown and Jerry Thibodeau

Lola Wulf and Bob Nance

Playing in this social event is a great way to widen your circle of friends and meet new people. The new sign-up sheet is up on the east wall of the pool hall. So think about sharpening up those pool-playing skills and joining in the fun on Sunday afternoons.

See you in the pool hall!!

Barb Brooker

The "Other Stuff" will have to wait till later as I have cleaning and laundry on my agenda as well.😇

ReplyForward

Activity Overload

 It boils down to decisions that I understand get more difficult with age. Butch and I were quick deciders all our lives with mostly good results. We can still make quick ones today, they just take longer. (It's a joke.)

The number of activities taking place in Trophy Gardens this month could boggle the soundest of minds. If you cannot find your niche, you aren't trying. Trivia is still taking place on Tuesday nights in the main hall. And we have a dedicated group that is hanging in there but we had two teams who decided to do something different last night and that is A-OK. My guess is they were resting. 

Iowa Potluck

Yesterday afternoon we attended the Iowa Potluck supper in Trophy Gardens Main hall. There was a guestimate of 70 people in attendance. The twins, Mary and Marge host it each season and they do an excellent job. These things do not happen by themselves and it gets a bit more of a challenge when we hit the 'birthday button' each year. An abundance of volunteers magically appears and that helps too. 

After the meal, we played trivia. We were divided into teams by the tables we were seated. There were 20 questions all about Iowa. Our table won an ice cream treat from DQ by answering 17 questions correctly.

I am sure they thought it might have been a bit slanted in our direction with me heading up trivia every week. But the truth be known, putting the questions together isn't that much help. Butch, Darrel, and Linda were much quicker and more correct with the answers. Also, there is a guy back in Iowa that helped a great deal and he wasn't even here. Denny Lautner is an expert on Iowa trivia and he came to the trivia sessions we had each Thursday in our pool hall. And every now and then he would give us a few Iowa questions so I guess you could say we practiced.

Is anyone still out there?

 I do apologize for forgetting all about this blog! If you are still checking in now and then, please let me know by sending a message to keep.movin.on@gmail.com with "still looking" in the subject line.

Here are the results of the Sunday February 5th  Mixed Doubles Pool Hall event

First place with 8 out of 11 wins was 

Arja T.  and Lonnie Hull

Second Place with 7 wins out of 11 are, in no particular order,

Barb Utech and Greg Dowhaniuk

Diane Golly and Don Wolf

Betsie Brown and Paul Kelleher

Barb Brooker and Ed Thompson

Third place with 6 wins out of 11, in no particular order, are

Janet Brown and Darrel Millard

Bev McEnaney and Marcel Tessier

Gini Thompson and Lorne Evans

Sunday Mixed Doubles Pool

Sunday Mixed Doubles Pool

 Eleven pairs came to the pool hall Sunday afternoon for some mixed doubles pool. The goal of this event is to meet new people or get better acquainted with the ones you already do know and play a great game well if it works out. Bottom line- we have fun!

Scores: Barb Brooker/Alex Stinson, Gayle Steinbeck/Elmer Hanke each had 8 wins

            Sally Kelleher/Don Riley-7 wins

The next two Sundays land on holidays so the next Mixed Doubles event will take place Sunday, January 8th. The sign-up sheet will go up on Sunday, January 1st with room for 12 couples or pairs to sign on. Play begins at 1:00 pm.

See you then!

Barb Brooker/Sally Kelleher

Another Ham Ball recipe

 This one is from a friend of mine and I think I might prefer this one.

Iowa Ham Balls

 

Keri and I were talking about regional cooking; how some things are known in the area and only a few miles into another area no one has heard of it. An example is Ham Balls. Our Fareway grocery store makes a ham loaf/ball mixture and most modern cooks nowadays use that as a starter but there is an original recipe and older Iowans know how to make ham balls from scratch. So I went in search of it and found it. So if I wanted to make them in Texas I would approach the meat market in HEB and ask if I could buy the two ground types of meat I would need.

Here is the original recipe:

Iowa Ham Balls

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 15 min. Bake: 1 hour

YIELD: about 15 servings.

This is a special recipe most everyone in Iowa loves. If you have out of State visitors and wish to impress them with something all Iowa, this will do it.

Ingredients

3-1/2 pounds ground ham

1-1/2 pounds ground beef

3 large eggs, beaten

2 cups whole milk

3 cups graham cracker crumbs

2 cans (10-3/4 ounces each) tomato soup, undiluted

3/4 cup vinegar

2-1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon prepared mustard

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Using a 1/3 cup measure, shape the mixture into 2-in. balls. Place in two large shallow roasting pans. Combine all remaining ingredients; pour over balls. Bake at 325° for 1 hour, basting frequently with sauce.

Soon to be heading South!

 With the first tiny bit of cool in the air, we start thinking about taking off for our southern homes. Just want you all to know that we who live in the north always have our friends of the south on our minds. And we keep track as best we can even when it may not look like it. I have hosted trivia all summer in our newly built pool hall and we generally have two tables of participants. So I am enjoying a backlog of questions for our Trivia fans in Trophy to enjoy this next season.

And now ...Laugh of the Week

When I was a kid, my parents would always say “Pardon my French” after a swear word. I’ll never forget that first day at school when the teacher asked if we knew any French.

DonWes Flea Market is gone...

 Here is a local news station's coverage of the DonWes flea Market fire...

https://www.krgv.com/news/fire-at-don-wes-flea-market-in-donna

Getting spammed to pieces?

Register your number to the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry at https://www.donotcall.gov/register/reg.aspx. Sure can make a difference in how much spam you get. For my full story of why this came to mind, read my latest blog entry at www.brooker3.blogspot.com

Bits & Pieces Wednesday 5-18-2022

 Bits & Pieces

Wednesday 5-18-2022

 

***Ann reported at the meeting today that there are 889 people in the park on 52 sites with 22 pets.

 

***Car For Sale, 2008 Saturn VUE, One Owner, 30,000+Original miles, AC, Automatic Trans, Radio, PS, PB Cloth Interior. Minor scratch on the right rear fender well. $8,500 FIRM.

Call Lynn 540-533-6240

***A friend reported that it is very quiet in the park right now. October will be coming soon. I personally miss it already I'm sure others are too.

I had surgery on my right wrist and typing is somewhat difficult for me right now. In another week I should be able to type better.

***For some reason my Juno is not sending Bits & Pieces out to people with email addresses with Hotmail, Live, MSN, and outlook. You can read Bits & Pieces on Barb Brooker's blog. If you know anyone with those addresses in their email please let them know they are not getting it and I am working on trying to fix it. Gmail goes through just fine.

Sorry about the trouble and hope to get it fixed soon.

Take care!!

Betsie Brown

 

 

Betsie's Bits & Pieces 5/10/2022

Bits & Pieces

 ***Ann led the park meeting today.  She said that there are 98 people in the park on 56 sites with 24 pets.

***She asked people to slow down!!  Doesn't that sound familiar.  Someone also added that some of the golf carts could slow down too.  I'll add that the golf carts need to stop at the stop signs.  

***We need the prayer wheel to spin for Willard Utech.  He is going to have surgery for a heart valve repaired tomorrow morning.  Keep Barb included in the prayer wheel spinning.  

***While you are spinning the Prayer wheel do it for Karen and Ron Bitterman too.  Their daughter passed away.  I'm not sure if this address is correct for the Bitterman's.  It is the last one I could find.  562 Deegan St., Hill City, SD 57745.  If someone has a newer address please let me know. 

 

Take Care  !!

Betsie Brown

  

Betsie's Bits and Pieces

 Betsie's Bits and Pieces

Bits & Pieces

Friday 5-6-2022

***From Barb Pearson:  My surgery scheduled for Wed, May 3 has been postponed due to my recent CT scan showing possible small multiple pulmonary nodules increasing in size and number in my lung.   I'm being referred to a cardiothoracic surgeon to get a sample of a nodule to confirm if it is cancerous or benign.  If the cancer is spreading, they will not do surgery.  If it is not spreading, then we will proceed with surgery.  I feel good.  My blood work came back good, my tumor shows signs of shrinking, and my tumor marker is down significantly.  My oncologist said I responded very well to treatment so he doesn't totally agree with the radiologist's findings.  He has scheduled me for another CT scan on May 25 in addition to the tissue sample.  I know God is in control.  His timing is not our timing.  So now we wait.  I have faith and believe that God will see me through this.  Thanks for your continued prayers.

***1986 Park Model Lot #401 Very Nice. 1 Bedroom/1 Bathroom, Ceiling Fans, Furnished 2 Televisions, Laundry w/Washer & Dryer, Large Stained Deck, Storage Shed, Metal Roof, Carport, Good Location. Asking $14,900.   Call Lynn at 540-533-6240. 

 

***Hello everyone in the US and Canada

I am applying to sponsor a young family from Ukraine.  Mom and 8-month baby fled to Poland and dad is still in Ukraine.  They are applying both to the US and Canada.  She does not have a sponsor in Canada and would have to have one.  I can have a group sponsor to help with expenses and the commitment is for 2 years  I would really appreciate help if anyone is willing.  They will need help with air flights, money, or miles.  They will need pretty much everything for themselves and the baby.  I have a finished basement that I will fix up for them. They will get jobs and eventually a place of their own.  

If anyone in Canada would like to apply as their sponsors that would be good too.  I think this is an awesome opportunity to help Ukraine. Please prayerfully consider helping and let me know if you are willing to be a part of this.  

You can get more information online at Welcome. Ukraine. And US for Ukraine

Please let me know if you have any questions and Thanks for considering the opportunity.

Love and blessings to you all

Suzie Kritta

 

Get the Prayer Wheel spinning for Barb as she goes through these tests and cancer treatments.

 

Take Care!!

Betsie Brown

 

Looks like my breakfast!

 

Betsies Bits. & Pieces Tuesday 5-3-2022

 Bits. & Pieces

Tuesday 5-3-2022

 

***I want to thank Sylvia Leach for videoing the first half of the park meeting today. We got an opportunity to meet Trophy Gardens' new managers—Scott & Ann Streber. Ann said a few words and let us know how she appreciated the friendliness of our park.

***Ann gave us the numbers for the week—there are 119 people in the park on 69 sites with 29 pets.

***If you want to see the video go to Facebook, the Trophy Gardens Residents page and scroll down until you see the video.

 

***The weather here in Iowa is cold and wet. The wet is much needed tho. The trees are just budding and the grass is very green. I guess it is time to do some woodcarving since I can't do yard work.

 

***Harold & Logie Vandehaar would like to rent a park model or mobile for January and February next year.  Call 573-216-9238.

 

Take Care!!

Betsie Brown

Good News About Trash

 Recycling will come to Trophy Gardens! It has been a long time coming. One must never give up.

Here are the rules about it.

Betsie's Bits & Pieces

 

 

Bits & Pieces

Tuesday 4-26-2022

 

***We awoke to rain and cooler weather. The rain was much needed and I know the farmers welcomed it with open arms. In the Valley, they have to irrigate to get their crops to grow.

 

***J D opened the Tuesday meeting with the pledge of allegiance and Don Ver Steg gave the opening prayer. J D reported that there are 162 people in the park, on 93 sites with 34 pets.

 

***Marsha asked if there was enough interest in getting the 4th shot for Covid. Walgreen s will give the booster shot in the park on Tuesday at 10:00 am after the next park meeting. Let Marsha know if you are interested in getting the 4th Covid shot.

 

***Marian sent a paper around for those who are interested in joining the dinner club next week.

 

***Stephanie has met the new managers and she told us a few things about them. The first names are Ann and Scott. They are originally from Michigan. I know all are anxious to meet them.

 

***I talked to Coke and Charles Fellenstein the other day. They are happy to be where they are living now. They asked about the park and some residents. Coke is going to get a new pacemaker. Hers is getting old and not working very well.

 

***Bryan & Andrew Dolezal, Marian Thomas, and I went on our road trip Monday to see some of the interesting points in South Texas. We headed for the Military Hwy to go to Brownsville. There we connected to the road that went to Space X. You can drive right through where the buildings that make the rockets and the launch pad. There is a lot of construction going on. The parking lots were full of vehicles and there is a lot of employment going on there. The road ends at the Gulf Of Mexico. There were people on the beach there. We turned around and went past through the “Spacebace Center” again.

We drove by the Brownsville Ship Yards where ships are being dismantled. We couldn't get close, but we did see some of the ships that are there.

Now on to Pelican Landing to eat wonderful Sea Food on our way to South Padre Island. There we saw the alligators and other sea creatures. Of course, there was a stop at DQ for refreshment as we were heading out.

Now on to see the Iwo Jima statue at the Harlingen Airport. That is one BIG statue. I was 5 years old when the war was going on.

Now time to head home!!

It was a busy day, but worth the trip. If you have a chance to go see some of these things—do it!!

 

***I AM WRITING THIS FOR JOYCE JOHNSON---  I PLAYED DIME BINGO THE FIRST PART OF THE SEASON AND WON FOUR OR FIVE TIMES THAT NIGHT...  I WENT BACK A FEW TIMES DURING THE SEASON AND GUESS WHAT I HAD JOYCE JOHNSON'S LUCK (NO WIN).    LAST FRIDAY I DID ATTEND THE DIME BINGO EVENT AND THERE WAS A SMALL CROWD BUT I DID WIN FOUR OR FIVE TIMES - TWO TIMES I HAD TO SPLIT AS KRISTI AND VERA BOTH BINGOED  THE SAME GAME I DID... JUST THOUGHT I SHOULD MENTION THIS FOR JOYCE JOHNSON'S SAKE AS SHE HOLDS THE ALL-TIME RECORD OF ABOUT 240 DIME BINGO GAME LOSSES  IN A ROW...  SHE DID WIN A GAME A  FEW DAYS BEFORE SHE WENT HOME TO ILLINOIS BUT THE REST OF THE SEASON SHE JUST DONATED TO THE CAUSE..... 

JUST THOUGHT I WOULD MENTION THIS -----BEV MCENANEY

 

The next Bits & Pieces will come from Iowa!!

Betsie Brown

Betsies Bits & Pieces 4-22-2022

 Bits & Pieces

4-22-2022

 

 

***Mike and Donna Bachman, first-time renters in the apartments this year, would like to rent a park model for Jan and Feb 2023. You can call us at 712-830-9510 (Mike) or 712-830-2883 (Donna). We really loved Trophy Gardens, everyone is so friendly, we want to stay longer next year!

 

***Saturday is dance night at Trophy Gardens. Southern Vibes will provide the music this Saturday!!

 

***Sunday will be the last worship service for this season. Pot Luck Brunch again and Randy will give the message. There will be hymn singing. Winter Ranch is invited again. Service starts at 9:30 am.

***I will be heading back to Iowa next week. My son-in-law, Bryan, flies in tomorrow, and soon we will be heading North, but not before a trip to South Padre Island, go see Space X, and to Brownsville to see the shipyards where large ships are dismantled.

 

Everyone take care!!

Betsie Brown

Bits& Pieces Tuesday 4-19-2022

 Bits& Pieces

Tuesday 4-19-2022

 

***Lynn Murray gave us the numbers for today: there are 192 people in the park on 110 sites with 39 pets. Many will be leaving on the first of May.

 

*** There will be one more Worship Service and Pot Luck Brunch on April 24th. This will be the last one until we meet again in November.

 

*** Asking for prayers for our Trophy family: Bob Yeley is in Indiana and is going to be in rehab. Charles Bozio had a pacemaker inserted today. Marsha Schmidt is in the Heart Hospital, and Marlin Nielsen had his appendix removed last week. They all need prayers for a speedy recovery.

 

***Penny Bingo is Wednesday at 6:30 pm at Winter Ranch, Friday is Happy Hour from 4:00 to 5:00pm in Trophy's main hall, 6:30 pm is Dime Bingo in TG main Hall. (Bring $2.00 in dimes).

 

***Harold and Logie Vandaahr, former Trophy residents would like to rent a park model next January and February Please contact them at 573-216-9238

 

*** Jack Littlefield would like to rent a park model for January and February. Phone 847-406-0587 (Jack) or 847-401-9743 (Jane). Jack plays the piano for us during the worship service on Sundays. Jack & Jane used to rent the Trophy Gardens park model.

 

***I have one more week in Texas before returning to Iowa. Bits & Pieces will keep going. Send me anything you want in Bits & Pieces. Send to brownfarm@juno.com I will miss the warm weather that we have had in Texas and the friends I have here. I will be back in the fall!! As my daughter says “This is my happy place”.

 

Take care!!!

Betsie Brown

From Barb B. "Better late than never!" We are back in Iowa now as of yesterday. Great trip! On to the next adventure. Posts on here may be sporadic but I will do my best to keep up so keep checking in. Till next time...

 

Betsie's Bits & Pieces Tuesday 4-12-2022

 Bits & Pieces

Tuesday 4-12-2022

 

*** There was a meeting in the hall at 9:30 am. Lynn said that there are 241 people still in the park on 136 sites with 48 pets.

 

***It was mentioned that the Easter Bunny is making a stop in Trophy on Friday morning. Stephanie asked the egg hunters to come to the hall at 9:00 am to start the hunt there.

 

***There will be a Happy Hour from 4:00 to 6:00 pm in the hall Friday afternoon. Bring your own beverage and some food to share. There will be music to entertain us. Dancing and line dancing will be good. Winter Ranch has been invited to join us.

 

***Marsha gave us very important about the name of your First Responders. We can't use that name as it belongs to another group. After much thought, a new name has been picked out. Now call it the EMERGENCY ASSIST TEAM. E.A.T. for short. Nothing else has changed-same responders and phone number.

 

***The first Sunday in April we had 75 in attendance for our Sunday Pot Luck Brunch. This week, even with so many heading north the past few days, we had 76 fellowshipping together.

 

We were happy to welcome almost 20 wonderful visitors from our sister park, Winter Ranch, and look forward to our next opportunity to worship together.

 

Easter Sunday will be a very special morning as we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

We will have a music service and brief message at 9:30 followed by a pot luck brunch around 10:15.

 

To supplement the wonderful items everyone brings, the church will provide a ham prepared by Roseann Johnson.

 

Susan Hudson, on lot 697, will be coordinating food for the brunch if you desire to provide a specific needed item. Otherwise, bring what you can.

 

If you are unable to bring a food item, join us anyway. God will provide enough. Come worship with us.

 

See you Easter morning.

Pastor Randy Parks

 

 

***Charlie Bezio is missing a piece of Plexiglas, 20x22, that was in the can-crushing room. It was still covered with plastic. It wasn't trash. He would like it back. Please do not take things out of the can-crushing room. Do not take things that do not belong to you. Charles works in that room and leaves things there for safekeeping. I guess that did not work. Please return his Plexiglas.

 

*** I received word that a good friend has passed away. Mary Hartgerink passed away on April 4, 2022. Mary & Harold lived on Blue Ribbon for years. Cards can be sent to her daughter Kim Zuehlke at N 967 County Road Ch., Coloma, WI 54930-9111. I forgot to include Kim's name and I misspelled her town. I have made the corrections in this newsletter.   

 

***Today was a sad day for us pool players that enjoy our Sunday Mixed Doubles as we won't be getting together till this coming October 2022.  A lot of teams have left for summer homes.   However, we will still be playing just to play on weekdays...  This Sunday we had only five teams signed up to play and we had Marlin Neilson filling in and also ( Bob Brooker a new player)  to make our teams complete...   It is also good to have substitutes agree to fill in when we need players to make the teams complete...  Thanks to Marlin & Bob...

   We were trying to find a purple glove as one  D. H. had lost hers --   I think -  well it looked like it that she was wearing a winter glove that she had brought from Wisconsin to use when the weather was cold-- or when she was riding her bike...   If anyone finds a purple glove you know who it belongs to...      Before we started playing we had time for education on age--- guess we got sidetracked?    I overheard one of the players making the following comment  "Nan - Nan - Nan - Nan I made my shot even if you don't."   And also "this game is a little bit of luck."  Personally, it is a lot of skill ....and some luck too.

   This is how our teams placed:

Winning all four games were Donna Hanke & Paul Kelleher

Winning two games were Betsie Brown & Marlin Neilson,    Bev McEnaney & Elmer Hanke

Winning one game were  Sally Kelleher & Terry Steinbeck,   Bob Brooker & Gayle Steinbeck.......

Our sign-up sheet is up for October of 2022.     Come join in on the fun time...   Thanks to everyone that joined in on the Sunday Mixed Doubles games... Friendships were made and fun was had.

PHB Bev McEnaney

 

Keep Cool in all of this heat!!

Betsie Brown

PS from Barb Brooker: We are leaving tomorrow the 14th for our Northern home so if things seem to be shorter than normal on this blog that will be the reason. We expect to arrive there on the 21st. I appreciate your interest so don't give up, keep checking!